ON TRAC hosting luncheon

September 9, 2013

The director of West Virginia's premier Main Street program will join Elkins ON TRAC Sept. 19 as guest speaker at a luncheon dedicated to "Downtown Dreaming."

ON TRAC invites the community to envision the future of downtown Elkins with special guest Terri R. Cutright, executive director of the award-winning Main Street Morgantown.

The noon event will be held at the Elkins YMCA Rotary Room.

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Cutright

An expert in Main Street success stories, Cutright will present "What Main Street Means to You," and discuss the Main Street approach to community revitalization.

"We are tremendously pleased and honored to have Terri on the program," said Karen Carper, project manager for Elkins ON TRAC. "Her dedication and enthusiasm, combined with the wealth of her experience, will deliver an infectious boost as we work toward Main Street designation for Elkins."

Cutright has been the executive director of Main Street Morgantown since April 1990. The most decorated Main Street program in West Virginia, Morgantown was a winner of the Great American Main Street Award in 1998. Under Cutright's tenure, MSM has won over 80 state awards.

Since 1996, Cutright has assisted Main Street West Virginia in selecting and training new Main Street communities in the state. This outreach earned her recognition as the recipient of the West Virginia Main Street Award in 1996, 1997, 1998 and 1999. The award was retired after 1999.

She has also served as a consultant to many programs, including those in Martinsburg, Ripley, and Harper's Ferry as well as Lake City and Berthoud, Colo., Whitewater, Wis., Durham, N.H., and Frostburg, Md.

She presently serves as the mentor for Elkins ON TRAC.

In addition to Cutright's presentation, the luncheon program will also include a session presented by ON TRAC volunteers. Committee members will present information on their objectives and projects to fulfill them, and collect input from guests to explore new possibilities.

"We are looking for ideas on how people want downtown to look and feel and what kinds of businesses they would like to see in their Main Street community," Carper said. Community involvement is very important to the downtown revitalization effort, she said. "We want everyone to feel a sense of pride and ownership in the redevelopment of their downtown."

Advance reservations are needed for the luncheon event. The cost is $15 per person. Reservations with payment to Elkins ON TRAC may be made by mail to 421 Davis Ave., Elkins, WV 26241. Email reservations may be submitted to info@elkinsontrac.org. Reservations will be accepted through Sept. 16.

Elkins ON TRAC works to cultivate success in the revitalization of downtown Elkins. Designated as a state ON TRAC community in 2009, Elkins is also working to achieve National Main Street accreditation. For more information, visit www.elkinsontrac.org or email info@elkinsontrac.org. For news of current events and activities, find Elkins ON TRAC on Facebook.